Ready-to-assemble furniture with improved fastening means

ABSTRACT

A multi-part article of furniture, such as a chair or table, capable of being assembled without tools or glue is disclosed. The legs of the table or chair can be rigidly, but removably, attached to the table top or chair seat by slideably engaging an elongated dowel protruding from an upper side surface of the leg into a mating slot formed in the end wall of an apron attached to the underside of the table top or chair seat. Alternatively, the elongated dowel may protrude from the apron and the upper side surface of the leg may contain a mating slot. Fastening clips may provide additional attachment between the legs and aprons and a separate dowel protruding from the upper end surface of the leg may mate with a bore in the underside of the seat or table top. In one embodiment, the length of the legs is varied either by replacement with longer-length legs or by the addition of leg-extension members.

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 794,410, filedNov. 19, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,289, which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 531,878, filed May 31,1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,180.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to ready-to-assemble furniture capable of beingassembled by the consumer without the need for tools, screws, nails orglue. The elements can be packaged and shipped disassembled. Whenassembled, the elements are rigidly, but removably, attached and haveconnection joints of enhanced structural strength and stability.

Furniture capable of assembly by the consumer, e.g., ready-to-assemble,is well known; however, such furniture assembly typically involveslengthy detailed assembly steps, which include the use of glue or otheradhesives or the use of hand tools, screws, brackets or nails to fastenthe elements together. The disassembly and reassembly of this furnitureis often not practicable.

Certain ready-to-assemble furniture without such adhesives or the needfor tools is also known. Such furniture, often called knock-downfurniture, employs various surface-mounted or recess-mounted fastenerclips and mating shoulder screws, such as the furniture described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 3,996,718, 4,178,047, 4,332,205, 4,470,716, 4,473,316,4,474,493, assigned to Modular Systems, Inc. of Fruitport, Mich. The useof such clips as the only fastening means results in joints ofless-than-desirable structural stability and also requires lengthymating surfaces of the furniture parts being joined in order to givestability and strength to the overall furniture assembly.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provideready-to-assemble furniture without these disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a multi-part article offurniture capable of assembly without tools, screws, nails or glue. Thesupporting members, such as the legs of a table or chair, are rigidly,but removably, attached to the member being supported, such as a tabletop or chair seat, by slideably engaging an elongated dowel protrudingfrom a side surface of the upper end of the supporting member into amating slot formed in the end wall of an apron attached to the undersideof the supported member. Alternatively, the elongated dowel may protrudefrom the apron and engage a mating slot in the side of the leg. Thisconnection between elongated dowel and mating slot provides improvedstructural strength over other fastening means.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the legs of a table or chairare provided with a standard wooden dowel axially aligned with the legand extending from the upper end of the leg, an elongated dowelprotruding from an upper side surface of the leg and a fastener such asa shoulder screw protruding from another upper side surface of the leg,substantially perpendicular to the elongated dowel. Optionally, theupper side surfaces of the legs may be provided with an elongated dowel,or a mating slot to engage an elongated dowel, and a fastener. Theunderside of the table or chair seat is provided with aprons, which havebeen previously affixed lengthwise with the ends of the aprons spaced apredetermined distance from each other corresponding to the width of thelegs at the upper end. On the ends of the aprons are provided eithermating slots or recesses into which recesses semi-locking fastener clipshave been inserted. Optionally, the ends of the aprons may be providedwith an elongated dowel, or a mating slot to engage an elongated dowel,and a recess into which a semi-locking fastener clip is inserted.

To assemble the table or chair, the elongated dowel and fastenerprotruding from the upper side surfaces of the legs are slideablyengaged into the mating slot and fastener clip of the aprons,respectively. When the leg is fully engaged, the upper dowel protrudingfrom the upper end of the leg is inserted into a bore in the undersideof the table or chair seat and the upper end surface of the leg is incontact with the underside of the table or chair seat. The legs arethus-connected to the table or chair seat at at least three points. Suchconnection is stable and structurally sound; yet, the legs can be easilydisassembled for storage or replacement.

In an alternative embodiment the elongated dowel and correspondingmating slot can be replaced by a double fastener clip and fasteningmeans.

In another preferred embodiment the height of the furniture can beadjusted by replacing the entire set of legs with longer legs or byattaching leg extension members to the bottom of the legs. Suchattachment requires no tools, screws, nails, brackets or glue.

The simplicity of assembly and disassembly is an advantage not foundwith other ready-to-assemble furniture fastened together with tools orglue. The furniture may be repeatedly disassembled and reassembledwithout any loss of structural integrity. The strength and stability ofthe connections between the legs and table or chair seat is improvedover other knock-down furniture.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of theinvention will become more apparent from a study of the followingdescription in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a chair back and back-leg member.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a chair back and back-leg member.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the chair seat with an affixedfront apron, which is partially cut away at one end to show detail ofmating slot.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the chair seat with an affixed sideapron, which is partially cut away at one end to show detail of fastenerclip.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the chair seat.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the front-leg assembly.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the front-leg assembly.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the entire chair assembly.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 9--9 of FIG.8 to show the connections between the chair seat aprons and one frontleg.

FIG. 10 is a partial side-elevational view of the assembly of asupporting leg to the chair seat or table top.

FIG. 11 is a partial front-elevational view of the assembly of asupporting leg to the chair seat or table top.

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the table assembly, illustratingalternative connection between supporting legs and table top.

FIG. 13 is a partial front elevational view of a table leg, withfasteners for alternative connection.

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of a table assembly, partially cutaway to show detail for alternate leg-extending embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a leg-extension member, partiallycut away to show detail of compression dowel.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a leg-extension member.

FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of the table assembly, illustratinga further alternative connection between the supporting legs and tabletop.

FIG. 18 is a partial front-elevational view of the assembly of asupporting leg to the chair seat or table top, illustrating the furtheralternative connection between the supporting legs, apron and chair seator table top.

FIG. 19 is a partial side-elevational view of the assembled supportingleg, apron and chair seat or table top, illustrating the furtheralternative connection between the supporting legs, apron and chair seator table top.

FIG. 20 is a partial side-elevational view of a table leg, with doweland fasteners and elongated mating slots for further alternativeconnection.

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of a table leg, with dowel and fasteners andelongated mating slots for further alternative connection.

FIG. 22 is a bottom plan view of a table top with aprons attachedshowing one table leg in phantom and illustrating the furtheralternative connection between the supporting leg, apron and table top.

FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of the table top with attachedaprons.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIGS. 1 through 10illustrate a first embodiment of the ready-to-assemble furniture of thepresent invention. This first embodiment is a chair assembly 10 (FIG.8). The chair is composed of a chair back and back-leg member 12, achair seat and apron member 14, and a front leg member 16, slideablyengageable with one another to form a chair. The chair assembly 10 isillustrated in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the chair back and leg member 12 is composedof two rails 18, which are connected by a rung 22 and one or more slats20. Projecting from the rails 18 in a direction substantially parallelto the slats 20 and rung 22 are two elongated dowels 24. The elongateddowels 24 are preferably located substantially at the midpoint of therails 18. Also projecting from the rails 18 are two fasteners 26, suchas shoulder screws, studs or other projecting fasteners of the typedescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,741,594, 3,894,377, 3,996,718, 4,332,205,4,470,716, and 4,473,316. The shoulder screws 26 project from the frontsurface of the rails 18, substantially perpendicular to the elongateddowels 24. The shoulder screws 26 are located substantially at the sameheight on the rails 18 as the elongated dowels 24.

FIGS. 3 through 5 show the elements of the chair seat and apron member14 of the chair assembly 10. FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the chair seat28. Attached to the underside of the chair seat 28 are two sets ofaprons 30, 32. FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the chair seat 28 with theapron 30 attached (in the factory) to the underside of the chair seat 28by any suitable fastening means, such as screws or brackets, generallyknown to the art. (For example, FIGS. 22 and 23 show aprons 64A attachedto the underside of a table top 62 by screws 80 inserted into one ormore countersink bores 82 through the aprons 64A.) The apron 30 has amating slot 34 cut into each end wall of the apron 30. Preferably, thereare two such aprons 30 of the type shown in FIG. 3 attached to theunderside of the chair seat 28; with one such apron 30 attached atsubstantially the front underside edge of the chair seat, and the othersuch apron 30 attached to the rear underside edge of the chair seat.

FIG. 4 shows a side elevation of the chair seat 28 with apron 32,partially cut away to show in greater detail the fastener in the endwalls of the apron 32. In FIG. 4 a factory-installed apron 32 isattached to the underside of the chair seat 28 by any suitable fasteningmeans, such as with screws or brackets. The apron 32 has fasteners 36secured in a recess 37 in each end wall of the apron 32. The fasteners36 are preferably semi-locking fastener clips such as those disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 4,473,316, 3,996,718 and 3,894,377. Preferably there aretwo such aprons 32 of the type shown in FIG. 4 attached to the undersideof the chair seat 28, with one such apron 32 at one underside edge ofthe chair seat and the other such apron 32 at another underside edge ofthe chair seat.

The aprons 30, 32 protrude from the underside of the chair seat in asubstantially perpendicular direction and are additionally substantiallyperpendicular to one another. Spacer blocks 39 may be attached to theunderside of the chair seat 28 in order to square the alignment of theaprons 30, 32. Such spacer blocks 39 are generally known to be suitablefor this purpose. When the aprons 30, 32 are so aligned as shown inhidden detail in FIG. 5, the spaces formed between the end walls of theaprons 30, 32 are a predetermined width dimension for the upper end ofthe front legs 40 and for the substantial midpoint of the rails 18. Theunderside of the chair seat also may contain two or more bores 38,located near the front corners of the chair seat 28.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the front leg assembly 16 of the chair assembly10. In the factory the two front legs 40 are connected by a rung 42. Atthe upper end of the legs 40 there are dowels 44 protruding from theupper leg surface in the axial direction of the legs 40. Protruding fromthe upper side surface of the legs 40, substantially perpendicularthereto and in a direction parallel to the rung 42 are two elongateddowels 24. These elongated dowels 24 are similar to the elongated dowels24 of the chair back and leg assembly 12.shown in FIG. 1. Fasteners 26such as shoulder screws, protrude from an upper side surface of the leg40 in a direction perpendicular to the elongated dowel 24.

The chair 10 may be assembled by the purchaser in only two simple steps.First, as shown in detail in FIGS. 10 and 11, the front leg assembly 16is rigidly but removably attached to the chair seat assembly byslideably engaging the shoulder screws 26 of the front legs 40 into thefastener clips 36 of the two aprons 32. At the same time, the elongateddowels 24 of the front leg assembly 16 are slideably engaged into themating slots 34 of the apron 30 affixed to the front underside of thechair seat 14. The screws 26 and elongated dowels 24 of the front legs40 are thus inserted into the fastener clips 36 and mating slots 34,respectively, and the legs 40 are forced toward the chair seat 28 untilthe dowel 44 nests in the bore 38 in the underside of the chair seat 28.

Second, in a similar manner the chair back and back-leg assembly 12 isrigidly but removably attached to the chair seat assembly 14. Theshoulder screws 26 protruding from the chair rails 18 may be slideablyengaged into the fastener clips 36 of the aprons 32. At the same time,the elongated dowels 24 protruding from the chair rails 18 may beslideably engaged into the mating slots 34 of the apron 30 affixed tothe rear underside of the chair seat 28. The elongated dowels 24 andshoulder screws 26 thus inserted are forced toward the chair seat 28until fully engaged in the mating slots 34 and fastener clips 36.

FIG. 9 discloses in detail the connection between the front leg assembly16 and the aprons 30, 32 of the chair seat assembly 14. In the assembledform the shoulder screw 26 is engaged firmly in the fastener clip 36.The dowel 44 is engaged firmly in the bore 38. The elongated dowel 24 isengaged in the mating slot 34. There are thus three connections betweenthe front leg assembly 16 and the chair seat assembly 14. As soconnected, the legs 40 are rigidly but removably attached to the chairseat and apron assembly 14. As attached, the chair is more structurallystable than other knock-down furniture presently known.

As should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, theconnecting members may be incorporated into the chair seat and apronassembly 14 and front and back leg assemblies 16, 12 in an alternatefashion such that the elongated dowels 24 and fastening means 26 mayprotrude from the aprons 30, 32 and the rails or legs 18, 40 may containmating slots 34 and recesses 37 into which fastening clips 36 have beeninstalled. Moreover, in a further alternative embodiment elongateddowels 24 may protrude from each end wall of the aprons 30, 32 and alsorecesses 37 for fastening clips 36 may be contained in each end wall ofthe aprons 30, 32. With such a further alternative embodiment, fasteningmeans 26 may protrude from more than one upper side wall of the rails orlegs 18, 40 and such upper side walls may additionally contain elongatedmating slots 34.

Neither tools, nor glue, nor adhesive are required for the purchaser toaffix the three elements 12, 14, 16 of the chair assembly 10 to eachother. No additional parts, such as screws or brackets or otherfastening means, are required.

The ready-to-assemble chair invention disclosed herein can bedisassembled in a simple manner as well without the need for any tools.Disassembly entails removing the front leg assembly 16 from the chairseat and apron assembly 14 by applying a force in the opposite directionof the assembly process. One may disengage the shoulder screws 26 fromthe fastener clips 36 and at the same time disengage the elongateddowels 24 from the mating slots 34 and the dowels 44 from the bores 38.In a similar manner the chair back and rear-leg assembly 12 may bedisengaged from the chair seat and apron assembly 14. The shoulderscrews 26 may be disengaged from the fastening clips 36 of the apron 32,and at the same time the elongated dowels 24 may be disengaged from themating slots 34. Once disengaged, the separate assemblies are readilystored or moved, a most desirable feature. Such disassembly andreassembly can be done repeatedly without any loss of structuralintegrity.

This invention is also particularly suited to other ready-to-assemblefurniture such as tables, stools or shelving. The connection between anysupporting leg and a surface to be supported, such as a table top, canbe identical to the connection between the front leg 40 and chair seatand apron assembly 14 of the chair, detailed in FIGS. 1 through 11.

In another embodiment of the invention the elongated dowels 24 andmating slots 34 can be replaced by other fastening means. For example,there is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 a table assembly 60 comprising a tabletop with four aprons 64 affixed to the underside of the table top 62.The aprons 64 have in a recess at one end a single semi-locking fastenerclip 69 and in a recess and at the other end a semi-locking doublefastener clip 71. Such semi-locking double fastening clips 71 areavailable from Modular Systems, Inc. of Fruitport, Mich. 49415. In thefactory, the aprons 64 are attached lengthwise and substantiallyperpendicular to the underside of the table top 62, preferably along theouter edges of the table top 62, using any suitable fastener generallyknown, such as screws or brackets. The ends of the aprons 64 so attachedare spaced from one another a predetermined distance corresponding tothe width dimension of the upper end of the leg 66. The aprons 64 areattached so that the end of an apron 64 with a single fastening clip 69is proximate to an end of another apron with a double fastening clip 71.Four legs 66 are provided, having a dowel 68 protruding in an axialdirection from the upper end surface and having a single fastener means,such as a shoulder screw 70, protruding substantially perpendicularlyfrom an upper side surface of the legs 66. A pair of fastening means,such as shoulder screws 70, also protrude substantially perpendicularlyfrom an upper side surface of the leg 66 and in a directionperpendicular also to the single shoulder screw 70, earlier mentioned.

The table 60 is assembled with only a few simple steps. The legs 66 arerigidly but removably inserted into the table top and apron assembly 62,64. First, the single protruding shoulder screw 70 is slideably engagedinto the single fastening clip 69 in the end wall of one apron 64. Atthe same time, the pair of shoulder screws 70 protruding from the tablelegs 66 are slideably engaged into the double fastener clip 71 ofanother proximate apron 64. By pushing the upper end surface of the leg66 toward the underside of the table top 62, the three shoulder screws70 will fully engage into the openings in the fastener clips 69, 71, andthe dowel 68 protruding from the upper surface of the leg 66 in theaxial direction will engage the bore 63 in the underside of the tabletop 62. There are thus at least three connections between the leg 66 andthe table top and apron assembly 62, 64. Yet, assembly by the purchaserrequires neither tools nor glue, nor additional fasteners, such asscrews or brackets.

To disassemble the table 60, the legs 66 must be removed in the oppositemanner from which they were inserted, thereby pulling the dowel 68 outof the bore 63 in the table top 62 and disengaging the shoulder screws70 from the fastener clips 69, 71. As assembled, the table is most rigidand sturdy, but disassembly can be most readily accomplished. Reassemblyis conducted in the same manner as assembly. Reassembly and disassemblycan be done repeatedly.

It is often desired that furniture for children or juveniles be readilyadaptable to use by adults; that is, when the children grow, it would bedesirable to have furniture that will grow with them. This inventionwill accomplish such objective. For example, with the table disclosed inFIGS. 12 and 13, the legs 66 can be sold in varying lengths. Thus, whena longer-length table leg is desired, the shorter legs are simplyremoved as described above and the longer legs can be inserted into thetable top and apron assembly 62, 64.

In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 14 through 16,the legs 66 can be extended by the addition of leg extension members 72attached to the bottom of the legs. Thus, the bottom ends of the tablelegs 66 are provided with one or more axial directed bores 76. One ormore compression dowels 74 extending perpendicularly from the uppersurface of leg extension members 72 are inserted into the bores 76 ofthe table leg 66. The compression dowels 74 are force-fit into the bores76, providing rigid but removable attachment without the need for toolsor glue. Suitable compression dowels for this purpose are disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,474,493, although other known, equally suitablefasteners may be employed. The length of the table leg 66 can beextended, using one or more of these extension members 72.

It may be desired to sell the table leg extension members 72 inconjunction with the original table assembly 60 in the same package. Ifso, such table leg extension members 72 can be stored until needed byinserted the compression dowels 74 of the leg extension members intobores 78 drilled into the inner side surface of the aprons 64 of thetable assembly 60. Such method of storage is shown in FIG. 14 in partialcut-away view. Other storage methods can be employed. For example, theleg extension members 72 can be separately packaged and the packageenclosed with or attached to the table assembly 60.

FIGS. 17 to 23 show yet a further alternative embodiment of themultipart article of furniture of the present invention. A tableassembly 60A in FIG. 17 again is comprised of four aprons 64A attached(in the factory) lengthwise and substantially perpendicular to theunderside of a table top 62. The table assembly 60A also includes fourremovable legs 66A. The aprons 64A may be attached by any suitable meansknown to the art. FIGS. 22 and 23 show the aprons 64A attached to theunderside of the table top 62 by screws 80 inserted into countersinkbores 82 through the width of the aprons 64A. Preferably as shown inFIG. 22, the aprons 64A are attached along the outer edges of the tabletop 62 so that the end walls of the aprons 64A so attached are spacedfrom one another a predetermined distance corresponding to the widthdimension of the upper end of each of the legs 66A.

As shown in FIG. 23, an elongated dowel 24A protrudes substantiallyperpendicularly from each apron end wall. Additionally, the end wall ofeach apron contains a recess 37 into which a fastening clip 69 isattached.

Four legs 66A are provided, having a dowel protruding in an axialdirection from the upper end surface. The legs 66A also have a singlefastener means, such as a shoulder screw 26, protruding substantiallyperpendicularly from two adjacent upper side surfaces of each leg 66A.These two adjacent upper side leg surfaces also each define elongatedU-shaped mating slots 34A, aligned lengthwise with the protrudingfastener means 26. This construction of the legs is best shown in FIGS.21 and 22.

The table 60A is assembled with only a few simple steps as shown inFIGS. 18 and 19. The legs 66A are rigidly but removably inserted intothe table top and apron assembly 62, 64A. First the elongated U-shapedslots 34A in the table leg 66A are aligned with and mated with theelongated dowels 24A protruding from the end walls of two proximateaprons 64A. Then, as the upper end of the leg 66A is moved axiallytoward the underside of the table top 62, the elongated dowels 24Aslideably engage with the U-shaped elongated slots 34A and, as the upperwall of the leg 66A nears the underside of the table top 62, thefasteners 26 slideably engage the fastening clips 69. Finally, theaxially projecting dowel 68 will fully engage the bore 63 in theunderside of the table top 62 when the leg 66A is fully installed. Thisprocedure is repeated for each leg 66A.

There are thus several connections between the leg 66A and the table topand apron assembly 62, 64A. The upper end surface of each leg 66A isconnected to the underside of the table top 62 by the dowel 68 engagedin the bore 63. Two of the four upper side surfaces of each leg 66A areattached to the end walls of two aprons 64A by both an elongated dowel24 slideably engaged with a U-shaped slot 34A and a fastener 26slideably engaged with a fastener clip 69. The assembled table top ismost rigid and sturdy. Yet, assembly by the purchaser requires neithertools, nor glue, nor additional fasteners, such as screws or brackets.

The table assembly 60A may be disassembled by removing the table legs66A in the opposite manner from which they were inserted, therebydisengaging the dowel 68 out of the bore 63 in the table top 62 anddisengaging the shoulder screws 26 from the fastener clips 36 or 69 andthe elongated slots 34A from the elongated dowels 24A. Reassembly isconducted in the same manner as assembly. Reassembly and disassembly canbe done repeatedly. The connections between the table top and aprons 62,64 and legs 66A in this alternative embodiment as shown in the tableassembly 60A in FIGS. 17-23 may also be used with other types offurniture.

While several forms of the invention have been shown and described,other forms will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore,it will be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings anddescribed above are merely for illustrative purposes, and are notintended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by theclaims which follow.

We claim:
 1. An assembly of structural elements aligned substantiallyperpendicular to each other, comprising:(a) a first structural elementhaving within a surface thereof at least one elongated slot, said slothaving a width, length and depth and defining an axis along its length;(b) a first fastener means attached to the surface of the firststructural element along the axis and aligned with the elongated slot;(c) a second structural element; (d) at least one elongated dowelextending from a surface of the second structural element, saidelongated dowel having a width substantially equal to the width of theelongated slot, a height less than or substantially equal to the depthof the elongated slot, and a length substantially greater than itswidth, said dowel defining an axis along its length; (e) a secondfastener means which is capable of engagement with the first fastenermeans attached to the surface of the second structural element along theaxis defined by the elongated dowel and positioned at a spaced distancefrom the dowel wherein the first and second structural elements aresolidly but removably fastened together by sliding movement of onestructural element relative to the other structural element such thatthe elongated dowel slides into and along the elongated slot and thefirst fastener means engages the second fastener means.
 2. The assemblyof structural elements of claim 1, wherein the first fastening means isa fastener clip and the second fastening means is a mating fastenerstud.
 3. The assembly of structural elements of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the structural elements is a support member.
 4. Theassembly of structural elements of claim 1, wherein at least one of thestructural elements is an apron.
 5. The assembly of structural elementsof claim 1, further comprising an essentially planar member having anupper surface and a lower surface wherein the first structural elementis removably attached to the lower surface of the planar member.
 6. Theassembly of structural elements of claim 1, further comprising anessentially planar member having an upper surface and a lower surfacewherein the second structural element is removably attached to the lowersurface of the planar member.
 7. The assembly of structural elements ofclaim 1, wherein the assembly forms a furniture unit.
 8. The assembly ofstructural elements of claim 1, wherein the assembly forms a table or achair.
 9. A multi-part article of furniture, comprising:(a) anessentially planar member having an upper surface and a lower surface;(b) at least two aprons attached lengthwise to the lower surface of theplanar member, said aprons each having therein an elongated U-shapedmating slot, said slots each having a width, length and depth and eachdefining an axis along their length; (c) at least two support membersfor supporting said planar member above a solid surface, said supportmembers each having an elongated dowel projecting from a surface, saiddowels each having a width, length and height wherein the length issubstantially greater than the width and the width is substantiallyequal to the width of at least one of the elongated slots, and theheight is less than or substantially equal to the depth of at least oneof the elongated slots, and each dowel defines an axis along its length;(d) fastener clips attached to the aprons along the axis defined by theelongated U-shaped slots and aligned with the elongated U-shaped matingslots; and (e) slidably engageable mating fasteners attached to thesupport members along the axis defined by the dowels and aligned withthe elongated dowels so that the support members are rigidly butremovably fastened to the aprons by slidably engaging the elongateddowels into the elongated U-shaped slots and the mating fasteners intothe fastener clips.
 10. The multi-part article of furniture of claim 9,wherein the fastener clips are attached to the aprons and positionedwithin a portion of the elongated U-shaped mating slot.
 11. Themulti-part article of furniture of claim 9, wherein the article offurniture is a table or a chair.
 12. A multi-part article of furniture,comprising:(a) an essentially planar member having an upper surface anda lower surface; (b) at least two support members for supporting saidplanar member above a solid surface, said support members each havingtherein an elongated U-shaped mating slot, said slots each having awidth, length and depth and each defining an axis along their length;(c) at least two aprons attached lengthwise to the lower surface of theplanar member, said aprons each having an elongated dowel projectingfrom a surface, said dowels each having a width, length and heightwherein the length is substantially greater than the width and the widthis substantially equal to the width of at least one of the elongatedslots, and the height is less than or substantially equal to the depthof at least one of the elongated slots, and each dowel defines an axisalong its length; (d) fastener clips attached to the support membersalong the axes defined by the elongated U-shaped mating slots andaligned with the elongated U-shaped mating slots; and (e) slidablyengageable mating fasteners attached to the aprons along the axesdefined by the elongated dowels and aligned with the elongated dowels sothat the support members are rigidly but removably fastened to theaprons by slidably engaging the elongated dowels into the elongatedU-shaped slots and the mating fasteners into the fastener clips.
 13. Themulti-part article of furniture of claim 12, wherein the fastener clipsare attached to the support members within a portion of the elongatedU-shaped mating slot.
 14. The multi-part article of furniture of claim12, wherein the article of furniture is a table or chair.